Taxon: Cynanchum viminale (L.) Bassi

Summary

Genus:

Cynanchum

Family:

Apocynaceae

Subfamily:

Asclepiadoideae

Tribe:

Asclepiadeae

Subtribe:

Cynanchinae

Nomen number:

464436

Place of publication:

Bononiensi Sci. Inst. Acad. Comment. 6(Opusc.):17. 1768

Verified:

02/02/2012 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

1 (0 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Euphorbia viminale L.

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Asclepias viminalis (L.) Steud.
Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R. Br.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Asclepias acida Roxb.
Sarcostemma acidum (Roxb.) Voigt

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs Note: as Sarcostemma acidum
Goyder, D. J. 2008. Nomenclatural changes resulting from the transfer of tropical African Sarcostemma to Cynanchum ( Apocynaceae : Asclepiadoideae ). Kew Bull. 63:471-472.
Liede-Schumann, S. & U. Meve. 2005. Notes on succulent Cynanchum (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) in East Africa. Novon 15:320-323. Note: lists as C. viminale L.
Meve, U. & S. Liede-Schumann. 2013. Erratum to: Taxonomic dissolution of Sarcostemma (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae). Kew Bull. 68:187-188.
Parrotta, J. A. 2001. Healing plants of peninsular India CABI International, Wallingford, United Kingdom. Note: as Sarcostemma acidum
Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia. Note: lists as C. viminale (L.) L.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: as Sarcostemma acidum

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	causticbush	as Sarcostemma viminale	1	Kellerman, T. S. et al. 1988. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of livestock in Southern Africa Note: as Sarcostemma viminale
English	caustic-creeper	as Sarcostemma viminale	1	Kellerman, T. S. et al. 1988. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of livestock in Southern Africa Note: as Sarcostemma viminale
English	sacred soma	as Sarcostemma acidum	1	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen Note: as Sarcostemma viminale
English	soma	as Sarcostemma acidum	1	Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs Note: as Sarcostemma acidum
Transcribed Chinese	rou shan hu	as Sarcostemma acidum	2	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: as Sarcostemma acidum

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Kenya			Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia. Note: lists as C. viminale (L.) L.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania			Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia. Note: lists as C. viminale (L.) L.
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Uganda			Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia. Note: lists as C. viminale (L.) L.
1	Native	Africa	Macaronesia	Cabo Verde			Arechavaleta, M. et al., eds. 2005. Lista preliminar de especies silvestres de Cabo Verde: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Djibouti			Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia. Note: lists as C. viminale (L.) L.
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Eritrea			Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Ethiopia			Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Somalia			Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia. Note: lists as C. viminale (L.) L.
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Sudan			Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia. Note: lists as C. viminale (L.) L.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Angola			Figueiredo, E. & G. F. Smith. 2008. Plants of Angola. Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Malawi			Meve, U. & S. Liede. 1996. Sarcostemma R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) in East Africa and Arabia. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 120:21-38.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Zimbabwe			Meve, U. & S. Liede. 1996. Sarcostemma R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) in East Africa and Arabia. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 120:21-38.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Botswana			Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Eswatini			Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Lesotho			Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Namibia			Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa	Eastern Cape		Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa	Free State		Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa	KwaZulu-Natal		Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa	Limpopo		Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa	Mpumalanga		Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa	Northern Cape		Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa	Western Cape		Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Madagascar			Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Mauritius	Rodrigues Island		Bosser, J. M. et al., eds. 1976-. Flores des Mascareignes.
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Reunion			Bosser, J. M. et al., eds. 1976-. Flores des Mascareignes.
1	Native	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Seychelles			Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Arabian Peninsula	Oman			Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia. Note: lists as C. viminale (L.) L.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Arabian Peninsula	Saudi Arabia			Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Arabian Peninsula	Yemen			Wood, J. R. I. 1997. A handbook of the Yemen flora.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guangdong Sheng	s.	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hainan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Andhra Pradesh		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Bihar		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Gujarat		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Karnataka		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Kerala		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Madhya Pradesh		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Maharashtra		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Odisha		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Rajasthan		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Tamil Nadu		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	Uttar Pradesh		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India	West Bengal		Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Nepal			Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Pakistan			Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Myanmar			Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Thailand			Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Vietnam			Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Philippines			Forster, P. I. 1992. A taxonomic revision of Sarcostemma R. Br. subgenus Sarcostemma (Asclepiadaceae: Asclepiadeae) in Australia. Austral. Syst. Bot. 5:62.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Northern Territory		George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Queensland		George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	South Australia		George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Victoria		George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1	Native	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Western Australia		George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
1	Native	Pacific	Southwestern Pacific	New Caledonia			Forster, P. I. 1992. A taxonomic revision of Sarcostemma R. Br. subgenus Sarcostemma (Asclepiadaceae: Asclepiadeae) in Australia. Austral. Syst. Bot. 5:62.

Native
Africa

MACARONESIA: Cabo Verde
NORTHEAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia
EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa [Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Western Cape]
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Madagascar, Mauritius [Rodrigues Island], Reunion, Seychelles

Asia-Temperate

ARABIAN PENINSULA: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen
CHINA: China [Guangdong Sheng (s.), Hainan Sheng]

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India [Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka], Nepal, Pakistan
INDO-CHINA: Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
MALESIA: Philippines

Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, Northern Territory]

Pacific

SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC: New Caledonia

Reference(s)

Arechavaleta, M. et al., eds. 2005. Lista preliminar de especies silvestres de Cabo Verde: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
Bosser, J. M. et al., eds. 1976-. Flores des Mascareignes.
Figueiredo, E. & G. F. Smith. 2008. Plants of Angola. Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
Forster, P. I. 1992. A taxonomic revision of Sarcostemma R. Br. subgenus Sarcostemma (Asclepiadaceae: Asclepiadeae) in Australia. Austral. Syst. Bot. 5:62.
George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
Jagtap. A. P. & N. P. Singh. 1999. Asclepiadaceae. In: Botanical Survey of India, Fascicles of flora of India. 24:50-52.
Meve, U. & S. Liede. 1996. Sarcostemma R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) in East Africa and Arabia. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 120:21-38.
Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia. Note: lists as C. viminale (L.) L.
Wood, J. R. I. 1997. A handbook of the Yemen flora.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Medicines	folklore		Parrotta, J. A. 2001. Healing plants of peninsular India CABI International, Wallingford, United Kingdom. Note: as Sarcostemma acidum
Medicines	folklore		Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs Note: as Sarcostemma acidum
Medicines	folklore		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: as Sarcostemma acidum
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	as Sarcostemma viminale	Kellerman, T. S. et al. 1988. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of livestock in Southern Africa Note: as Sarcostemma viminale

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=464436. Accessed 12 May 2026.